Description:

Lot of nine items signed by pilots who were pursued and often downed by German ace MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN (1892-1918), as well as several of those who participated in his final aerial battle. Included is: FREDERICK KIRKHAM (1894- ?) English Second Lieutenant with the R.F.C. As an observer flying with Lt. Reginald Follit, on 28th April 1917, Kirkham became the 48th victory credited to Manfred von Richthofen (“The Red Baron”). Fountain pen ink signature (“F J Kirkham”) on a slip of paper. LEONARD C. F. CLUTTERBUCK (1894-?) British Second Lieutenant with the R.F.C.. On 12th March 1918 Clutterbuck was shot down, along with his observer Henry Sparks, to become the 64th victory credited to von Richthofen. A.L.S., L Clutterbuck, 1p. 4to, St. John's Wood, London, 20th April 1918, to Mr. Reed. Clutterbuck thanks his correspondent for his letter and sends his autograph. Two large tears to the center of the letter, only very slightly affecting the text and signature. A portion from the lower left corner has been neatly clipped away, presumably to remove a second signature. HENRY J. SPARKS (1890- ) British Second Lieutenant with the King's Royal Rifle Corps and later with the R.F.C. during World War I. In his capacity as an observer Sparks was shot down and wounded by von Richthofen on 12th March 1918. Vintage ink signature ('Henry J. Sparks MC') on a small, irregularly clipped piece. RICHARDX RAYMOND-BARKER (1894-1918) British Major with the R.F.C., an ace credited with six victories. On 20th April 1918 Raymond-Barker was shot down and killed to become the 79th (and penultimate) victory credited to von Richthofen. An extremely rare dark fountain pen ink signature (“R Raymond-Barker, Capt.”) with a typed caption beneath on a slim oblong 8vo piece. DAVID G. LEWIS (1898-1978) Rhodesian fighter pilot. On 20th April 1918 Lewis was shot down to become the final and 80th victory claimed by von Richthofen. Bold blue fountain pen ink signature ('D. G. Lewis, Lieut RFC') on a slim oblong 12mo. red bordered piece. Lewis has also added his squadron name in his hand beneath his signature. WILFRID “WOP” MAY (1896-1952) Canadian captain, an ace officially credited with 13 victories. May was the final Allied pilot to be pursued by von Richthofen and almost becoming his 81st victim, before the German ace was shot down on the Western Front in 1918. Scarce ink signature ('W R May') with typed rank of Second Lieutenant beneath, on a slip of paper. HAROLD HARTNEY (1888-1947) Canadian-born American lieutenant colonel, an ace officially credited with seven victories. Hartney claimed to have been shot down by von Richthofen although is not officially recognized as one of his victims. Hartney commanded the 27th Aero Squadron which included Frank Luke (1897-1918) who was the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor. A.L.S., “Harold E. Hartney, Lt. Col., Air Corps (Reserve”, 1p. 4to., Great Neck, Mar. 1, 1928 sending his autograph and continues “Assuming you are an admirer of that gallant young officer I am doubly pleased...”. A typed annotation appears in the lower left corner of the letter. Some light overall creasing and a few minor traces of former mounting to the verso, otherwise very good. JOHN HEDLEY (1887-1977) British captain, an ace credited with 11 victories. The observer earned himself the moniker “The Luckiest Man Alive” and for many years it was mistakenly thought that Hedley had been shot down by von Richthofen. Signed and inscribed printed 8vo. advertising flyer issued to promote Hedley's lecture Rambling Thru the Air, featuring a full length image of the aviator in his uniform, printed caption The Luckiest Man Alive and brief printed text stating, in part, “Over the German lines....he was....shot down in flames by "The Red Knight of Germany"', signed by Hedley in black ink to a clear area, adding 'Captain British Royal Flying Corps and RAF Ret” beneath his signature and with a holograph note at the base of the flyer apologizing for not having an actual photograph. One small tear to the right edge, repaired with tape. MERRILL TAYLOR MERRILL (1893-1918) Canadian lieutenant, an ace officially credited with seven victories. Taylor's second victory, on 21st April 1918, touched off the chain of events that led to the death of von Richthofen in that day's dogfighting. Rare fountain pen ink signature ('M S Taylor') with typed rank beneath, on a very slightly irregularly trimmed oblong piece. Autographs of Taylor are rare in any form as a result of his early death when he was shot down and killed in action at the age of 25. OLIVER LE BOUTILLIER (1895-1983) American fighter pilot, an ace credited with 10 victories. Le Boutillier was one of the pilots involved in the air fight in which von Richthofen was killed. Signed 4 ½” x 3” photograph of Le Boutillier standing outdoors alongside three of his fellow squadron members and a dog. Signed (“Capt O. C. 'Boots' Le Boutillier”) in bold black ink, adding “209 Squadron R.A.F.” beneath his signature. Annotated in ink in an unidentified hand to the verso indicating that the photograph was taken at Bertangles in France in 1918 and identifying the other men as Lieutenants Drake, Harker and Rowards and naming the dog as “Dick”, the squadron's mascot. A rare grouping!

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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